Jessica O'ConnorNearly three-quarters of UK business leaders said their roles have become more complex over the past five years, with emerging technologies, cybersecurity threats and economic uncertainty cited as key drivers.
The findings come from a survey of 500 senior decision-makers commissioned by Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS), which examined the pressures facing managers, directors and C-suite executives across UK businesses.
Overall, 73% of respondents said their leadership roles had become more complex since 2020.
The figure rose to 79% among directors and C-suite executives and to 82% among decision-makers in mid-sized companies employing between 100 and 249 staff.
The most frequently cited factor behind this increased complexity was the emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, selected by 31% of respondents.
Other commonly identified pressures included growing cybersecurity and data privacy risks (28%), the performance of the UK economy (27%) and new regulation or legislation (27%).
Additional challenges highlighted by business leaders included expectations around diversity, equity and inclusion (25%), the rise of remote working (25%) and increasing employee pay demands (21%).
Stuart Wells, managing director of executive education at Alliance Manchester Business School, said: “Over recent years, significant new pressures have been placed on business leaders, and evidently this has translated into the vast majority feeling as though their roles have become far more complex.
“If you look at the different factors contributing to this increased complexity, you quickly appreciate just how much the business world has been transformed since 2020.
“The rise of remote working since Covid, the proliferation of AI tools, scrutiny over DEI, cyber threats and data privacy, and turbulence within the broader economic climate – senior decision-makers are needing to navigate all these changes as they lead their teams and perform in their roles, and that is hugely challenging.
“Regardless of experience or competence, it’s clear that many senior managers require greater support. From peer-to-peer learning to formal training, it is imperative that organisations consider which issues are impacting their leadership team and take action to ensure individuals are suitably equipped to lead effectively in this rapidly changing business world.”
